HPLC analysis of striatal dopamine and its metabolites
| Dopamine | DOPAC | HVA | Turnover | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise day 5 | No exercise | Saline | 269.5 ± 24.9 | 33.4 ± 4.5 | 33.1 ± 3.2 | 0.3 ± 0.08v |
| MPTP | 48.0 ± 8.4* | 11.7 ± 1.9* | 87.2 ± 9.6 | 2.1 ± 0.28* | ||
| Exercise | Saline | 285.1 ± 30.3 | 36.2 ± 1.8 | 26.3 ± 2.2 | 0.2 ± 0.06 | |
| MPTP | 4.9 ± 0.2* | 1.4 ± 0.1* | 4.7 ± 0.1# | 1.2 ± 0.14*,# | ||
| Exercise day 28 | No exercise | Saline | 246.9 ± 19.8 | 36.5 ± 4.5 | 27.4 ± 1.7 | 0.3 ± 0.01 |
| MPTP | 77.9 ± 12.0* | 14.7 ± 2.4* | 13.5 ± 1.9* | 0.4 ± 0.01 | ||
| Exercise | Saline | 315.2 ± 9.0+ | 39.3 ± 2.8 | 25.9 ± 1.3 | 0.2 ± 0.01 | |
| MPTP | 69.8 ± 11.7* | 11.3 ± 1.5* | 13.5 ± 1.2* | 0.4 ± 0.05 |
The concentration of dopamine, DOPAC, and HVA and turnover ratio were analyzed in each experimental group (n = 6 per group) at 5 d of exercise (corresponding to 10 d postlesioning) and also at 28 d of exercise (corresponding to 42 d postlesioning). The turnover ratio is defined as [(DOPAC + HVA)/dopamine]. At day 5 of exercise, there was a significant effect of MPTP on dopamine and DOPAC levels and turnover ratio, compared with saline-treated animals (the asterisk represents significance at p < 0.0001). There was no significant effect of exercise on dopamine levels in either MPTP or saline-treated groups. Exercise at day 5 caused a significant decrease in turnover ratio and HVA levels in the MPTP plus exercise group compared with the MPTP plus no exercise group only (# represents significance at p < 0.02). At day 28 of exercise, there was a significant effect of MPTP on dopamine, DOPAC, and HVA levels, compared with saline-treated animals (the asterisk represents significance at p < 0.0001). There was a significant increase in straital dopamine levels in the saline plus exercise animals compared with the saline plus no exercise animals (+ represents significance at p = 0.015), but there was no significant effect of exercise on dopamine levels in the MPTP-treated groups.